\jee-teh-geh-máy\ v [Swahili : sustain yourself] : empowering street children through education.
|
|
Our Mission:
Jitegemee, Inc. exists to provide street children with access to formal and vocational education. We believe every child with the desire to learn and the will to succeed should be encouraged to do so. We are dedicated to removing the obstacles that prevent street children from attaining their educational and vocational goals, whether these obstacles are hunger, homelessness, or lack of schooling.
Background:
Like countries across Africa, Kenya has been going through a dramatic, historic change as traditional subsistence farming is being replaced by a modern cash economy. Poor rural families are increasing losing their land and moving to city slums to find work as subsistence farming ceases to be a viable option. The result? The number of "out-of-school" youth sleeping on the streets of Nairobi, the capital city, has nearly tripled in the last decade. Human rights groups and international charities estimate that as many as 200,000 children in Kenya earn their livings in the street by foraging for coal, metal, and handouts. As these street children grow older, many turn to theft and prostitution to survive and end up circling through a revolving door of children.s prisons and the street. The best hope for helping these children is to find ways they can sustain themselves in their home areas, where even orphans usually have a network of relatives.
The Program:
Jitegemee (which means "sustain yourself" in Kiswahili) is a partnership between American volunteers and Kenyan educators who work together to address the needs of street children in Machakos, Kenya, a town about an hour outside of the capital city, Nairobi.Since 1996, Jitegemee has provided scholarships for street children who have shown a dedication to changing their lives and learning the skills to be self-sufficient in adulthood. These young people, though not necessarily homeless, have spent the greater part of their lives in the streets. Some tried to earn money by doing small chores or by begging; others were simply idle, sniffing glue to deaden their hunger and boredom.
Jitegemee works in partnership with the Kenya Adult Education Department, who provide teachers to our classrooms, and the Children's Department, which provides guidance, referrals and advice on specific cases, as well as in partnership with other non-governmental organizations that serve vulnerable children.
Jitegemee runs a scholarship program for elementary and secondary school children and a vocational training program for youth over 14 years old. Jitegemee also runs a center that serves over 100 youth with a library, lunch, a parent.s group and other educational services.
Most of our students are the only members of their families to learn to read. Some are former sex workers or drug dealers who are now striving for a better life. Many began attending formal elementary schools years ago, but dropped out when their families came upon hard times and had no money for school fees.
Two fundamental principles distinguish Jitegemee's work from that of other organizations serving street children.
1) From the beginning, we stress that each child in our program is expected to work actively to assist their own families and the wider community. They are asked frequently to reflect on how they contribute, and what would enable them to play a larger role in helping others. Very early, they are expected to assist less-skilled children. Later, those in the vocational program play a major role in training other apprentices. Students in formal schooling are expected to assist others in a variety of other ways.
2) When a child enters our program, we make every effort to assist him/her as needed until he/she attains self-sufficiency. For that reason, we offer a variety of ancillary services.
Jitegemee provides an alternative to street life...
- Schooling or vocational training
- Nutritious lunch five days a week
- Yearly medical screening and emergency health care
- AIDS education
- Adult encouragement and guidance
- Physical safety
- An enduring sense of community
Jitegemee has 501(c)3 tax-exempt status in the United States and is a registered NGO in Kenya.
411A HIGHLAND AVE. #171 SOMERVILLE, MA 02144, USA
BOX 1100, MACHAKOS, KENYA | Phone: 254-734-768-706
email: info at jitegemee.org